In case there were doubts about Terry Collins' ability to captivate a
clubhouse, 12 years removed from his last major league command post, the new
Mets manager erased them yesterday with a stirring, red-in-the face opening
address that had his team ready to go out and win one for The Gipper.

Collins' 15-minute speech, moments before the Mets' first full spring
workout, focused on believing in the team's talent and dismissing the gloom and
doom forecasts for 2011.